Indicator for cabinets



1952 w. F. FLORENCE INDICATOR FOR CABINETS Filed Jan. 7, 1948 FIG.

FIG. 2.

FIG. 3.

L\\\\\\\\\'A\\\\\\\\\\\\\\g INVENTOR JOHN DOE WILLIAM .F. FLORENC 23 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- INDICATOR FORGABIN-EES William F. Florence, Pasadena, one". ApplicationJanuary 7, 1948 Se'ri'al'Nm 13029- (01. LIB-135$ 2 Claims. 1 The present invention relates to cabinets in general and particularly to filing cabinets. More specifically the invention comprises a rack or filing cabinet formed with a multiplicity of small compartments or pigeonholes adapted to receive classified letters, etc., and which incorporates indicating means by which information as to the whereabouts of. the owner of the compartment may be evidenced. w

The usual reception ofiice or waiting room is provided at the receptionists desk with a rack or filing cabinet comprising a plurality of compartments in which mail and papers arriving for various members ofthe company or firm may be placed so that when the owrier of the whimholeenters the office he may immediately notice andpick up the mail awaiting attention. Such cabinets are frequently positioned adjacent or upon the telephone cabinet, particularly the event the receptionist is also the telephone operator. During the day the oiiicers or other membersof the firm or company having individual compartments in the cabinet may leave the oifi'ce, informing the receptionist as" they do so that they will return at a certain hour. In a s'fn'all' concern this presents no difficulty but in a large organization it becomes impossible to retain such information without making notations relative thereto. The present invention is directed to a filing cabinet incorporating indicating means by which information concerning the holder of the compartment or pigeonhole can be recorded. Such indicating means can be so positioned as to convey information only to the receptionist or, if desired, to the receptionist and to the ,e general public upon the opposite side of the cabinet.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the cabinet constructed in accordance with the present invention as viewed by the receptionist;

Figure 2 is an end view of the cabinet in Figure 1, part of the end wall being broken away;

Figure 3 is an enlarged showing of the indicator panel which is typical of those positioned above each compartment or cubbyhole;

Figure 4 is a partial section upon the line 4-4 of Figure 1 showing indicating means positioned upon both front and rear faces of the cabinet; and

Figure 5 is a section similar to Figure 4 through a different part of the cabinet in which indicating means are positioned only upon the receptionists side of the cabinet.

In the drawing a filing cabinet or rack is in: dicated: generally by the: reference character 20- and seen. tobe formed of horizontal boards or plates 2|= supported by vertical upright end members, 22, the space. between each pair; of; adjacent. horizontal: members being subdivided by vertical side wall members 23 which are; inali'gnment in the various tiers to provide eubbyholes 25 which, in the illustratedembodiment, are of uniform size. Pigeonholes 2-5 are open at both ends, that is,- in; the front andrear faces of the cabinet 2-0 in, the two vertical seriesat the left of Figure 1, while the remaining threevertica-l series; to the right thereof are closed by a back wall 26. 7 e h H Panel members-2 8- extend across; the forward face of the cabinet adjacent. and below eachhorizontal base 21-. A similar panel extends adjacent each .baseupon the rearward side of the cabinet for those cubbyholes which open on that side. e

That portion of the panel board 2'3 which overlies the top. portion of each dubbyhole may bereferr'ed' to as the 'indicatonboard f'cjr that cubbyhole, and each carries a cl'iaftl. indicated generally by the. reference cnaracterrr, which, in the preferred forniillustrated most clearly in Figure 3', comprises a norrztnta arranged series of numbers runnin from 8 l2 and from I to 5, corresponding, to the 'i'is'iial working. hours of the normal office; A'tthe left hand side. of the series of hunters? aiiii tars the Word 'In," Whil at the flTWOYd out. Each of the wor s and each or the letters is prefera ly fidsltibne'd' "its. owns nar'e or rectangle. n the case" of pigeonholes- 25, open at both ends the an is? reerodircediat each end although, for ma axis which war toapparent, the arrangementswill be reversed? at the opposite ends. v

The indicator bbardfqr each .pi'ge'orilio le is" provided with elongated slot 32 positioned above and extended for the full length or the chart 3|. A pointer 33, the pointed end of which extends in the direction of the chart, is carried by a member 34 which itself extends through the slot 32 being transversely slidable therein in the direction of the chart length. In the case of those pigeonholes 25 open at both ends the member 34 comprises a rod extending for the full length thereof and through the slot 32 in the panel 28 at the opposite end to carry a second indicator 33 adjacent its outer face. In the case of the pigeonholes 25 which are closed at their rear faces by the back wall 26 the element 34 comprises merely a pin. In either case an elongated and flat plate member 36 is fixed to the member 34 to make sliding contact with the adjacent inner face of the adjacent panel 28 for the purpose of preventing any angular tilting movement which could result in the binding of the member 34 in the slot 32.

The operation of the cabinet is believed to be clear. Its use as a filing rack or cabinet for the sorting and retention of mail, etc. conforms to the usual practice. The receptionist places each letter or batch of mail in that compartment or cubbyhole assigned to a particular individual as indicated by lllS name positioned upon the indicator board immediately thereabove. In Figure 3 the name John Doe is illustrative of the positioning of such a name. The use of the device as an indicating mechanism and as an aid to the receptionist in maintaining an accurate account of the comings and goings of the individuals with whom she is connected is also believed to be clear. As each man arrives in the morning the receptionist slides the pointer 33 facing her to the left until it is positioned as shown in full lines in Figure 3 in which position it points to the word "In upon the chart 3|. The indicator then conveys the information that Mr. John Doe is in his oflice. If Mr. John Does pigeonhole is one of those open at both ends this information is also conveyed by the pointer 33 positioned at the opposite side of the cabinet, the pointers moving in synchronism by virtue of their connection by the rod 34. If Mr. John Doe prelers, however, that the fact he is in or out of the ofiice be kept from the public generally then he would be provided with one of the cubbyholes which is closed at its rear face by the back board 26.

If, during the working day, Mr. John Doe leaves his office, as he passes the receptionist he may inform her that he will return at, say, 4 oclock. In that event the receptionist moves the pointer 33 from its full line position to a position opposite the figure 4, a position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3. The indicator then conveys the information that Mr. John Doe is out and will return at 1 oclock. If instead, however, Mr. John Doe states that he is to be gone for the day the receptionist moves the pointer all the way to the right to indicate the Out position.

The cabinet constructed in accordance with the present invention may be made in various sizes and of various materials. It may be of sheet metal, wood, plastic, or any reasonable substitute therefor. The indicators are intended to be readily adjustable but are retained in a set position against accidental displacement by any common or well known means.

While the particular apparatus herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood pointers for each pigeonhole adjacent that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim.

1. Indicating means for a cabinet of the type comprising a rigid body having spaced sides and divided int pigeonholes extended between said sides each of which is open at at least one of its ends at said spaced sides, said means comprising individual intelligence-conveying markings for each of said pigeonholes positioned upon the opposite sides of said body and at the opposite ends of the related pigeonhole, the markings upon opposite sides being arranged sequentially in reversed order, manually adjustable pointers positioned adjacent the markings upon the opposite sides of said body, and a rigid connecting element extended between said pointers at the opposite ends of a particular pigeonhole connecting them for simultaneous conjoint movement, said element being slidabiy mounted in said body.

2. Indicating means for a cabinet of the type comprising a body having spaced sides and divided into vertically and horizontally arranged pigeonholes extended between said sides each of which is open at at least one of its ends at said spaced sides, said means comprising aligned marks upon each side of said body positioned adjacent a particular pigeonhole to convey intelligence concerning a party assigned to that pigeonhole to a person facing the side of said body, the aligned marks upon opposite sides of said body adjacent a particular pigeonhole being apposed and arranged in reverse sequence, the aligned marks upon each side of said body, and a rigid rod carrying said pointers related to a particular pigeonhole in said body to change the position of said pointers relative to said marks, characterized in that the adjustment of the pointer at one side of said body simultaneously changes the adjustment of the pointer at the opposite side of said body.

WILLIAM F. FLORENCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 119,891 Smith Oct. 10, 1871 680,451 Broadt Aug. 13, 1901 1,076,180 Wicklund Oct. 21, 1913 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 31,345 France Oct. 26, 1926 

